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Racing NSW has been informed of the passing of former top Warwick Farm trainer, Geoff Maynes at 75.

Geoff passed away last week at Tamworth where he lived out his remaining days on a property just outside the city.

As a 19yo, Geoff Maynes worked on a remote cattle station in Queensland and left that behind for Vietnam when he was called up for national service in 1967.

Late trainer Geoff Maynes pictured with former jockey Maurice Logue at Randwick

"I didn't know much about the war, I didn't even know where Vietnam was," Geoff told Anna Falkenmire from the Tamworth Northern Daily Leader.

Anna wrote: "It was a twist of fate that would send Maynes into a war. He sat on the letter from the Australian government for six months, nursing a broken foot which delayed his entry to the army.

After an x-ray in Brisbane cleared him for duty, his journey began.

He was trained for the infantry in Singleton, for jungle fighting at Canungra, radio operations at Shoalwater Bay and had more training at Ingleburn.

He even spent a period with the Special Air Service, pretending to be the enemy and setting up ambushes to train the Aussie soldiers.

Eventually, he was sent to Vietnam. It was here that Mr Maynes joined the First Battalion as a reinforcement officer.

He stayed overseas for about 10 months during 1968 and 1969, taking on the duties of machine-gunner and then scout. He said ANZAC Day is a chance for him to reflect on past wars and family members who have fought in them, as well as mates that fought alongside him but didn't make it home.

It's been more than half a century now since he returned to Australia, but Mr Maynes said catching up with "old army mates" is how he likes to spend April 25.

"I come into Tamworth every year and I've got two mates in there that I served with and were friends with that were in other battalions," he said."

Returning to his home country, Mr Maynes headed back to remote Australia, working in the Northern Territory and Western Queensland before eventually finding his way to Warwick Farm to train racehorses.

Geoff was a very popular trainer at the 'Farm and enjoyed plenty of success with a long list of horses that included:

Donegal Mist: Won 10 races including the 1990 Gr 1-The Metropolitan, Gr 2-Prime Minister’s Cup, Gr 2-Moonee Valley Cup, Listed-Premier’s Cup, Gr 3-Ipswich Cup, Gr 3-Tatt’s Cup and Listed-Tatt’s Plate. He was also runner-up in two Newcastle Cups

The Bullfighter: Won 1990 Gr 3-Up and Coming Stakes

Jacanarchie: Won six races including the Listed-McKell Cup,  and other good performers such as:

Crème Anglaise, So and So and talented filly Bilancia.

Mr Maynes is survived by wife Leah, daughters Sophie & Helen, and his greater family. A funeral service was held at Tamworth Racecourse on Wednesday, 24th August 2022.